Chapter Forty-one

"Captain, there is a very faint ion trail."

"Heading?"

"217.08."

"Anything of interest in that direction, a planet or even a reasonable sized asteroid?"

"There is a star system that lays about a day's journey from here along that heading." Spock confirmed. "It is most likely that if this ion trail is a ship that it is headed for that star system."

"If?" Kirk repeated.

"The trail is cold, the ion traces being detected are in the limits of standard instrument calibration error."

"So it could just be space noise that we are mistaking for a ship?"

"Precisely, Captain."

"It's the best we've got." Kirk shrugged. "Sulu, set a course for..."

"Captain," M'Ress the Communication's Officer purred "Starfleet is hailing."

"Wow, that didn't take long. We just arrived at the intercept point." Kirk sighed. "Put them off, M'Ress, if we can at least get a glimpse of this 'Black Diamond' we might be able to hail them."

"I doubt that very much, Captain." Spock said.

"They would listen to us if they knew we could help one of their own."

"The Black Diamond knows that I could assist Salen. I had Dr. McCoy place his notes on the incident with his daughter on Starfleet's mainframe so that the Black Diamond could read them. When Salen became ill they would look to Dr. McCoy's notes first."

"Captain," M'Ress said softly "it is not just Starfleet who hails, it is Fleet Admiral Morrow."

"Shit," Kirk muttered "they brought out the big guns to stop us."

"Captain, it would be unwise to leave Fleet Admiral Morrow on hold any longer. If he is calling to keep us from endeavoring to find the Black Diamond he will not be easily dissuaded."

"I know." Kirk sighed. "Alright, M'Ress...put him through."

"Yes, Captain." M'Ress purred.

"Admiral Morrow," Kirk greeted over the subspace "to what does the Enterprise owe this honor?"

"My contacting you is no honor, James." Morrow's voice replied grimly. "What mission is the Enterprise currently on?"

"Uh...we're just investigating a possible Romulan ship that may have intercepted the Intrepid."

"Romulans? What are the chances of you catching up to them?"

"Can't really say, Sir. The trail is kinda cold."

"Unless you feel that your current mission is of vital Federation security I would like to request that the Enterprise return to Earth at maximum Warp."

"What is going on, Sir?" Kirk asked although he was afraid he already knew the answer.

"I am recalling the Enterprise as a personal favor to retired Admiral Pike...his adopted son was recently killed in an accident aboard the Excelsior."

"Salen..." Spock said quietly.

"Yes," Morrow sighed "I'm sorry, Spock, there is one less Vulcan in the galaxy. He will be missed. I met him a few times, he was a good kid. The Admiral requested that you, James, and McCoy be allowed to return for the funeral."

"We will be there, Admiral." Kirk assured

"Admiral?" Spock asked. "Was Salen's body returned to Admiral Pike?"

"No." Morrow replied sadly. "Salen was killed in an explosion, there were no remains to return. How soon can the Enterprise arrive?"

"At maximum Warp we can make the trip in little over four hours." Sulu answered.

"Then do it, unless you feel this Romulan ship is more important."

"No, Sir." Kirk said. "Being at Admiral Pike's side is more important at the moment."

"I'm glad to hear it, James, he could use friends right now. Enterprise, return to Earth for twenty-four hours of leave, that is an offical order."

"Aye, Sir."

Kirk sat down heavily in the Captain's chair and dragged his hands through his hair. Spock stared at the floor with his thoughts locked on the thought of his mentor suffering the keen pain that could be brought about by loss. He was angered by the fact that the black ops had not even had the decency to return Salen's remains to his father. Feeling sick to his stomach Spock was unsure what to do next. Kirk suddenly jumped to his feet and headed for the turbo lift.

"Captain?" Spock asked.

"I need to tell McCoy...both of them."

"Of course."

Sulu had already made the calculations back to Earth and the forward view turned to the blue glow as the Enterprise jumped into Warp. Spock paced the bridge for a while before handing the con over to Sulu. It had been late at night when they had reached the spot where the Intrepid had encountered the Black Diamond. Retreating to his quarters Spock walked quietly over to his bed where Daniel was sleeping peacefully.

Kneeling down next to the bed Spock smoothed out Daniel's hair before gently kissing his temple. Despite his attempts to control his emotions Spock's eyes burned with unshed tears. Daniel had been born just a few weeks after Pike had adopted Salen which reminded Spock that Salen had only been allowed to enjoy six years of freedom and family life after captivity before it had all been abruptly ended.

Nuzzling deeper into the soft covers in his sleep Daniel turned over onto his back. Spock stared at the tiny scar that could just barely be seen on Daniel's chest where the v-neck of his pajamas dipped. Daniel's heart was human in anatomy and placement, however at two month of age it was discovered that the organ was straining to follow a Vulcan rhythm. Beneath the scar was a pacemaker that had saved Daniel's life.

Crawling into bed on top of the covers Spock placed a protective arm over his son. Unable to sleep Spock simply waited for the Enterprise to arrive at Earth. When Kirk came over the intercom and announced that they had made it to Earth Spock woke his still sleeping child.

"Fa...Father?" Daniel asked sleepily.

"Daniel, I am returning you to your mother early."

"Are you coming home with us?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"No."

"What has happened?"

"A friend that I deeply respect needs my help."

"I am sure that you can make everything right."

"I wish that were true."

Spock had Daniel go get dressed while he put on his best dress uniform. Daniel went with M'Ress who was going to transport him down to Uhura when the others had already left for the funeral. When he met Kirk and McCoy in the transporter room they were also wearing their dress uniforms. With her eyes bloodshot with tears Joanna was wearing a simple black dress. She glanced at Spock, but his Vulcan features brought her grief back to the surface and she turned away as tears slipped down her face once more. Bones pulled her into a comforting embrace and held her tightly.

"I am deeply sorry for your loss, Joanna McCoy." Spock said softly.

"There is no chance...is there?"

"The Admiral would not have been notified if Salen was still alive. I was unable to find Salen in time and I will forever regret that fact."

"I know you would have saved him if you could." Joanna replied. "Thank you for saving me."

"Joanna," Bones said "please remember that we can not mention any of this to Admiral Pike."

"I understand." Joanna sighed. "His grief will be hard enough for him to bare as it is."

"Come on everyone," Kirk said quietly "it's time."

They arrived in the National Starfleet Cemetery only moments before the formal military funeral began. In his own dress whites Admiral Pike looked more like a statue of cold marble than a living man made of flesh. For the first time the cold steel of the wheelchair that he was bound to looked like it was natural: now they both looked mechanical. Pike glanced at his friends as they arrived and nodded solemnly to them before returning his attention to Admiral Morrow who was performing the ceremony.

The traditional ceremony was attended by many high ranking Starfleet Officers who were there to offer support to the retired Admiral out of respect. Spock noticed a few younger members present that he decided must be friends of Salen himself. As Morrow offered Pike a folded Federation flag the dark slate gray sky began pattering down a light rain. The rain striking Pike's face gave him the appearance of tears, however Spock had already noticed that Pike's mental state was beyond the ability to shed tears. He could not recall a time when the strong Admiral had looked so lost.

When the ceremony was over the various men and women in attendance offered their sympathies to the Admiral. Pike didn't say a single word to any of them. He only offered them a sight nod of thanks in return to their woefully inadequate words of sorrow. Kirk, McCoy, Joanna, and Spock held back while the others filed out of the cemetery. Feeling guilt gnawing at his stomach Spock couldn't find the courage to watch Pike as he suffered through the parade of well wishers.

Eventually Pike was left alone sitting in front of a small stone cross that held his son's name etched into it. The cross was set into the grass along with countless others that littered the rolling hills in neat lines. The Enterprise crew approached Pike, however it was Joanna who made the first contact. Kneeling down in front of the Admiral she leaned forward and embraced him, sitting back on her heels she stared at him with redened eyes.

"I don't know what to say." Joanna whispered.

"Neither do I, Sweetheart." Pike replied with a joyless smile.

"I loved him...but I missed my chance."

"Joann..."

"Salen asked me to marry him when we were at the Academy...I told him I wasn't ready. With your permission I would like to take his last name, I would like to call you family."

"I would be honored."

"Thank you."

Joanna leaned forward and kissed Pike's cheek before she broke down into tears again. McCoy offered his condolences to Pike as he gathered his daughter up in his arms. Kirk didn't have any words of comfort that he felt were worth saying so he gave Pike a respectful salute instead. Even though Starfleet had long since moved away from the traditional salute Pike still returned the gesture.

Kirk guided McCoy and Joanna away to give Spock and Pike some time alone. Spock stood in front of Pike at a loss for what to say. Pike looked up at Spock and forced a sad smile before reaching his hand up in the traditional Vulcan salute. Spock reached out and pressed his palm against Pike's in the same salute briefly before pulling away.

"Walk with me, Spock."

Spock was sharply reminded of the last time Pike had given him that order. It had been moments before he had handed the Enterprise over to him and volunteered to board the Nadara to be Nero's prisoner. Pike turned his wheelchair away from the insignificant little stone cross that was meant to mark Salen's life.

Spock walked silently at Pike's side as they made their way to the top of a nearby hill that overlooked the vast cemetery. Pike stopped at the top of the hill and gazed out at the horizon. It was beginning to rain harder and soon both men were soaked to the skin. Unmoved by the rain Spock stood by Pike and stared at the horizon as well. When lightning flashed in the distance a genuine smile touched Pike's lips.

"I remember Salen's first lighting storm like it was yesterday." Pike mused. "It was just a few weeks after you and Kirk were returned from Romulus. I woke up in the middle night, but not because of the storm. I listened carefully and I could hear Salen whimpering with fright with each lightning strike. It took me a few flashes to realize that he was hiding under my bed."

Spock listened to the story without adding any comment.

"It never occurred to me that he would have never encountered something as simple as a lightning storm. He didn't want to admit to his fear, so he just sought refuge under my bed. Despite being sixteen he was like a child in so many ways. I was able to talk him out from under the bed and we went out into the living room to watch the storm together. He asked me if lightning could hurt him, and I told him that it would be very rare for lightning to strike him. He seemed to lose his fear instantly, he quickly grew to love watching lightning. Did Vulcan have lightning storms?"

"No."

"I was so proud of Salen when after only three years he announced that he was ready to go to the Academy. I asked him if he was ready to be around so many humans and he replied that he felt that humans were just like lightning and that it was probably very rare that one would strike him. There were times when I wondered where he found the strength to trust again."

"He found that strength through you."

"I would like to think so." Pike whispered.

Silence settled over the pair as the lighting continued to dance on the horizon. Distant thunder rolled over the landscape with its deep rumble. Spock looked down at Pike and watched in pain as the Admiral reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. With his eyes weld shut Pike's expression contorted into one of grief before he composed himself once more.

"I want hear it from you, Spock." Pike whispered. "Right now, say the words, I need to hear them from you."

"I do not understand. What do you wish me to say?"

"Stand in front of me." Pike directed.

Spock stepped out in front of Pike and stood motionless in the rain with his hands behind his back.

"Kneel down." Pike ordered.

Spock followed the unusual request without hesitation. Sinking down to his knees in the wet grass he waited patiently for his next order. When he found himself staring into Pike's ice blue eyes he was forced to look away, unable to be witness to the pain in their crystal depths. For several minutes the rainfall was the only source of sound between the Commanding Officers.

"Spock," Pike whispered "I need you to look me in the eyes, and tell me that my son died aboard the Excelsior."

Spock brought his head up and looked directly into Pike's waiting eyes. Opening his mouth Spock tried to speak, however with only a lie in his throat he lost his voice. Unable to say the words that Pike wanted to hear Spock bowed his head in defeat.

"Spock, please, I need the truth." Pike begged.

"And you deserve it. I am just uncertain if it is best."

"The truth can't hurt any more than this lie. Is Salen dead?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Spock hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and relating everything he knew about Salen's demise. He told him what little he knew about the back ops and the ship that Salen had been assigned to. Spock explained how Salen had come to contract Pa'nar and how Joanna had almost died as well. Pike listened to the story without interrupting. When Spock was done Pike closed his eyes once more. He only had one question.

"Was his death a quick one?"

"No." Spock shook his head sadly. "However, it would have been painless."

"Thank you for the truth, Spock."

"I am sorry that I did not do more to prevent this."

"You had a son of your own to raise and Salen never showed any interest in being truly Vulcan."

"Admiral..."

"It's okay, Spock, I forgive you...I can only hope that you will forgive me."

"Forgive you? For what?"

"The next time you see me I will be a cold-blooded murderer, I hope that you won't think too much less of me."

"Murder? Who are you going to murder?"

"Jack William Beckett..."